Sewing machines&#39; needle eyes threader



Oct. 3, 1961 G. CAPELLI 3,002,476

SEWING MACHINES NEEDLE EYES THREADER Filed Aug. 19. 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. W 1 22 4 Oct. 3, 1961 G. CAPELLI 3,002,476

v SEWING MACHINES NEEDLE EYES THREADER Filed Aug. 19, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

W 8 MM Claims priority, application Italy Sept. 5, 1958 14 Claims. (Cl. 112-424) This invention generally relates to mechanical needle eyes threaders and, more particularly, it is concerned with a new and advantageous device designed to facilitate the threading operation of sewing particularly but not necessarily of zig-zag type machines needles.

It is known to those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains that a wide plurality of needle eye threaders had been heretofore proposed and on sale. The most accepted needle threaders include a very thin and small sized hook member adapted to be passed through the extremely narrow needle eye of the smallest needle currently adopted in machine sewing, so that the operator may hook thereabout a loop of thread which, as the said thin hook is being drawn back outside the needle eye, is therefore caused to be pulled through the needle eye by the said back moving hook. 'Such mode of operation of known sewing machines needle eyes threaders obviously requires that the said needle threader hook and the needle eye to be threaded thereby must be very precisely levelled. Provided that the needle is subject to axial reciprocation, for making use of the above needle threaders it is strictly necessary that the operator, prior to acting on the device for passing the thin hook in the needle eye, very carefully sets and levels the needle bar of the sewing machine at the level at which the required juxtaposed relationship exists between hook and needle eye.

In view of the above strict requirements of operation, the heretofore proposed needle threaders are therefore subject to very serious objections. It is obvious that during the actual use of the device, some overlooking or careless handling of the device might sometime occurWh I" by the thin and tiny hook of the device is forced within the needle eye while not in exactly aligned relationship therewith. In addition it might sometime happen that the Various movable members of the sewing machine, drivingly connected to the needle bar thereof, are caused to even slightly move while the said tiny hook is still inside the needle eye. In either of the above occurrences the said thin hook would be broken or otherwise seriously damaged. As a consequence thereof the needle threaders heretofore proposed have not enjoyed the wide trade approval which might be expected in consideration of the facilities which the device may afford.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a new and advantageous sewing machine needle threader device which is not subject to the above and other objections, and wherein the components designed for causing the thread to be passed through the needle eye are combined with safety devices designed to ensure the most correct relative levelling of the threading hook and of the needle eye, respectively, and to prevent the various components of the device and/ or of the sewing machine associated therewith to be damaged upon possible .unaccurate or careless operation.

More particularly, it is an object of this invent-ion to provide a needle threader as above, including a threading tiny hookadapted for passage through an eye of a needle conventionally secured to the lower end portion of a vertically ,reciprocat-able conventionally operated needle bar, the said tiny book being connected to the lower end of a lever member pivotally secured at its upper .end to the said needle bar guide structure for oscillatory movement from a retreated resting position to an advanced atcnt operatory position wherein the said tiny hook is passed within the needle eye, the said lever member being connected to control means responsive to the position of said needle bar to free said lever member to oscillatory move from its said retreated position as the said needle bar is at a given definite level only-wherein the said t-iny hook is aligned with said needle eyeand respectively to free said needle bar to vertically move from said given definite level upon full disengagement of the said tiny hook from the needle eye only-whereby the said hook may be engaged in the said needle eye only if a proper levelling or alignment exists between said hook and said eye, and whereby the said proper levelled or aligned condition is ensured and kept on until said engagement exists.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and advantageous needle threader as above including further control means operatively connected to said tiny hook bearing lever member and to the said needle bar, and re sponsive to the axial movement of said latter needle bar for causing the said tiny hook to be fully disengaged from the needle eye as the said needle bar is caused to move from the said given definite level-whereby the various components of the device and/or of the sewing machine may be fully protected against stresses and unduly loads if the operator carelessly or unwillingly causes the rotatable machine mechanism to be rotated while the said tiny hook is still engaged with the needle eye.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention are in part obvious and in part will be made ap parent as this description proceeds and the features which are believed to be new and characteristic of the invention will be in particular set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction, as to its mode of operation and as to the resulting elfects, will become best apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred form of embodiment thereof, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, forming an essential component of this disclosure, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front vertical elevation of a conventionally constructed and operatable zig-zag sewing machine provided with a needle threader produced according to the invention, in its rest or unoperative position;

FIGURE 2 is a similar elevation of the construction of FIG. 1, but wherein the device is shown as in its operative or needle eye engaged condition;

FIGURE 3 illustrates in enlarged scale and in Vertical sectional view, a detail of the pivotal connection of the lever member, including in the dash-lined circle 3 of FIG. 1;

FIGURE 4 is a somewhat simplified perspective showing of the assembly of the components of the device, illustrated in enlarged scale; and

FIGURE 5 is an exploded perspective View of the assembly of FIG. 4.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts and members throughout the several figures, and wherein the structural and operative members of the sewing machine to which the device of the invention is supposed to be combined are shown by lightly drawn lines, for readily distinguish the structure typical of the invention from the various stmcuiral ele ments appertaining to the art:

In the form of embodiment shown in the drawings, the needle threader of the invention is supposed as ,applied to a conventionally constructed zig-zag or embroidery sewing machine of the type wherein its vertically reciprocatable needle bar Ill, detachably supporting ,a needle 11 at its lower end portion, is guidably supported and reciprocated in a laterally vibratable needle bar guide structure 12. The construction and the mode of operation of such mechanism are not detailed described therein, as the same appertains to current knowledge of the art.

The needle threader of the invention includes a very thin and small sized hook means 13 laterally protected by winged flanks 14, adapted to laterally guide the said hook in the axis of needle 11 as it is caused to be advanced in direction A towards and through the needle eye, upon proper levelling of said needle and i.e. of the parent needle bar, for alignment of said hook with said eye. The said tiny hook 13 is secured to the lower end portion of a lever member 15 pivotally supported by and connected to a structure made integral with or fixedly connected to the said needle bar guide means 12, so that the said lever 15 and the hook 13 supported thereby is caused to follow the needle bar and the needle in their lateral movement in zig-zagwhereby lateral alignment of hook 13 and needle 11 is constantly ensured.

The said pivotal connection of said lever 15 to said needle bar guide structure 12 may consist of pivots made of screws 16, rotatably traversing vertically elongated holes 21 (FIG. of flank portions of a member 32 to which the said lever is secured. Preferably, the said lever 15 is connected to said member 32 by means of screws 27 (FIG. 5) passed through elongated holes 31 in the upper portion of said lever 15, for adjustment and register thereof.

In the operation of the device, upon proper register and adjustment of its components, the whole assembly drawn in heavy lines in FIGS. 1 and 2 and shown in FIG. 4 (except the needle 11) is to be conceived and considered as a structural unit capable of unitarily oscillate, about the axis defined by the pivot screws 16, from the retreated rest position of FIG. 1, wherein the hook 13 is outside and well far from needle eye, for regular sewing, to the advanced operative position of FIG. 2, Wherein the hook 13, deeply engaged into and having its hooked fore portion frontally outside the needle eye, is ready for receive the loop of thread to be pulled through the needle eye, for threading purpose, as the said hook 13 is caused to retreat itself from the needle eye by oscillating back the lever 15 towards its resting position.

Preferably, the forward oscillation in direction A of the said unitary assembly and i.e. of lever 15 is operatorcontrolled by pressing in direction B (FIGS. 2 and 4) on a handle forming lever 28 connected to or preferably made integral with the said member 32, and the backward oscillation is spring controlled.

In the form of embodiment shown, the various safety and correct operation ensuring devices and means, typical of the invention, are substantially embodied into a plate member 17, connected to and preferably made integral with the said member 32 and cammingly co-operating with members responsive to the motion of needle bar 10 and respectively defining the position of needle bar guide structure 12.

In particular, the said plate member 17 includes an inverted L shaped groove having an upper laterally extended portion 19 and a side vertically extended straight portion 18. The said upper portion 19 is arc-shaped with its center substantially in the pivotal axis of pivot screw 16. The said L shaped groove 18, 19 acts as a cam in respect to cam follower means consisting of the head portion of a screw 20 screwed in or otherwise secured to the reciprocatable needle bar 10 or to a member secured to and movable with the said bar, according to the regular construcion of the sewing machine.

The said cam means and the said cam follower means are relatively arranged so that the said screw 20 will be aligned with and allowed to guidably run along the said vertical portion 18 of L groove when the said oscillatable assembly including plate 17 and hook bearing lever 15 is in its resting retreated position of FIG. 1, and that same screw 29 will be aligned with and positioned to penetrate into the said lateral arc portion 19 of same 4 groove when the said needle bar is at its uppermost position either of FIG. 1 and of FIG. 2 only.

In addition, the various above described assembly and components are arranged for having the correct aligned relationship of the threading hook 13 and of the needle eye-as necessary for proper and safe operation of the device--when the said needle bar 10 is brought and kept at its said uppermost position. Such uppermost position will be therefore defined as the given definite level of the vertically movable unit including the needle, necessary for properly allowing the safe engagement of the threading hook in the needle eye.

From what above and by a consideration and comparison of the several described FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5, it will be readily understood that the needle threading device might be operated--by pressing in direction B on hand lever 28 and therefore by advancing the book 13 in direction A towards and across the needle eye-only if the said needle is previously brought at its uppermost level, i.e. at the required given well defined level, because the said oscillatory motion in direction A of the said oscillatable assembly may be accomplished only if the said cam follower screw 20 is positioned for entry into and engage with the said lateral arc portion 19 of inverted L shaped groove of said plate 17.

In addition, vertical reciprocation of needle bar is possible only when the said cam follower screw 20 is vertically aligned with the vertical portion 18 of same L groove, i.e. when the said oscillatable assembly is brought and kept at its retreated resting position of FIG. 1. Therefore no engagement of the hook 13 in the said needle eye may exist if the needle bar and i.e. the needle occupies a position differing from its uppermost position wherein such engagement is possible and safe.

Therefore there is believed to be apparent that the invention provides a new and advantageous means adapted to prevent any possible unaccurate operation of the device, in view of the fact that the tiny threader hook may be engaged with the needle eye only if a proper aligned relationship exists between said elements, and that such relationship is retained and kept until such engagement exists.

The above described features of the invention, as considered from a certain standpoint of view, actuate a somewhat link between the reciprocatable needle bar 10 and the oscillatable assembly including the threader hook bearing lever 15, the said link being devised to prevent axial motion of said needle bar in respect to said hook, as the latter engages the needle eye. The provision of a blocking device adapted to prevent any axial movement of needle bar in the above engaged relationship might however be subject to the objection that severe stresses might be caused in the sewing machine mechanism and particularly in the relatively light-constructed components of the device of the invention, in the occurrence that some motion would be imparted to the machines rotary members, say to the hand-wheel thereof, while the hook 13 is engaged in the needle eye.

Therefore the invention provides further safety means adapted for disengaging the said hook from said needle eye when a tendency to move from the said given defined level develops in said needle bar. Such further safety means operate in consequence of the relative freedom of vertical displacement possessed by the described oscillatable assembly, due to the provision of vertically elongated holes 21 (FIGS. 3 and 5) as bushing means for pivot screws 16. Therefore, while the engagement of cam follower screw 20 in lateral portion 19 of cam groove defines the relative position of the needle bar and of the oscillatable assembly, i.e. of the tiny hook 13 in respect to the needle eye, the said oscillatable assembly i.e. the threading hook is allowed to follow the needle bar i.e. the needle eye in its downward motion, within the limits of the elongation of holes 21.

.the needle bar guide structure of the machine.

accents Such accompanying downward movement of the oscillatable assembly (such movement is obviously exceptional and it might develop upon careless handling of the ma chine only) is made use of for freeing the hook'from the needle eye while such elements are still at their aligned relationship. Such ancillary useful eifect is obtained by the provision of a cam shaped portion 22 of the plate 17 edge, the said portion being adapted to cammingly co-operate with a stop member say the head of a screw 23 screwed in the needle bar guide structure. Supposing that the device is set in the operative position of FIG. 2,, with its screw 26 engaged in lateral portion 19 of groove, and that the needle bar is forced to downwardly move, the assembly including plate 17 is therefore caused to follow such downward motion and the said cam portion 22 is then brought in contact with stop member Z3.

As such downward movement of parts proceeds, the slant of said cam portion 22 abutting on stop member 23 causes a side-thrust to develop on said oscillatable assembly which at its turn causes such assembly to oscillate back (oppositely to direction A) for full disengagement of threading hook 13 from needle eye.

There is therefore further believed to be evident that the invention provides, in addition to means designed to prevent any possible misalignment of threading hook and of needle eye, as relatively engaged, further means designed to prevent any unduly stress in the engaged components if a tendency to move from the said given defined position of .parts may develop in the mechanism.

Still further, it is therefore to be evident that the present invention includes various advantageous features, and it will be understood too that each of the new features described and any combination thereof may also find usefulapplication in other types of sewing machines differing from the one described.

According to an ancillary feature of the invention, spring means are provided for bringing back the various movable members towards their rest position. For example, a spring 24 upwardly urging on a small lever 25 may be made use of. Such lever 25 urges from below on a projection 26 of plate 17, and it is pivotally connected say by means of a pivot screw 29 (FIG. 4) to A cam shaped notch in said lever 25 is provided for resiliently retaining the device in its regular resting condition.

Without further analysis the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of this invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint .of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations "should and are intended to be comprehended Within the spirit and meaning of equivalents of the invention, as-defined in and by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention and the mode of making use thereof, what is claimed as new and desired to have protected by Letters 'Patent is:

1. Ina sewing machine, in combination with a longitudinally reciprocable needle bar and needle: a threading means; a support supporting said threading means; means for mounting said support on a part .of the sewing machine for movement between a retracted inoperative position, and a threading position in which said threading means is located in the eye of the needle, and also for movement in the direction of the longitudinal movement of the needle; coupling means for coupling said support .in said threading position with the needle bar for movement with the same with said threading means located in the eye of the needle; and control means operatively connected to said support for shifting said support to said inoperative position during movement of said support with said needle bar so that the movement of said needle bar with said support and threading means efliects disengagement of said threading means from the eye of the needle;

2. In a sewing machine, in combination with a'longitudinally reciprocable needle bar and needle; a threading means; .a support supporting said threading means, said support having a cam portion; means for mounting said support on a part of the sewing machine for movement between a retracted inoperative position, and a threading position in which said threading means is located in the eye of the needle, and also for movement in the direction of the longitudinal movement .of the needle; coupling means for coupling said support in said threading position with the needle bar for movement with the same with said threading means located in the eye .of the needle; and control means engaging said cam portion of said support during movement of said support with said needle bar for shifting said support to said inoperative position so that the movement of said needle bar with said support and threading means effects disengagement of said threading means from the eye of the needle.

- 3. In a sewing machine, in combination with a longitudinally reciprocable needle bar and needle: 3. threading means; a support supporting said threading means and having a slot; pivot means passing through said slot for mounting said support on a part of the sewing machine for pivotal movement between a retracted inoperative position, anda threading position in which said threading means is located in the eye of the needle, and also for movement in the direction of the longitudinal movement of the needle and along said slot; biasing means connected to said support for holding the same in a position in which said pivot means abuts one end of said slot in an operative position of said support in which said threading means cooperates with the eye of the needle; coupling means for coupling said support in said threading position with the needle bar for movement with the same with said threading means located in the eye of the needle and withsaid slot moving relative to said pivot means; and control means operatively connected to said support for shifting said support to said inoperative position during movement of said support with said needle bar so that the movement of said needle bar with said support and threading means efiects disengagement of said threading means from the eye of the needle.

4. In a sewing machine, in combination with a longitudinally reciprocable needle bar and needle; a threading means; a support supporting said threading means and having a slot; pivot means passing through said slot for mounting said support on said support having a cam portion, a part of the sewing machine for pivotal movement between a retracted inoperative position, and a threading position in which said threading means is located in the eye of the needle, and also for movement in the direction of the longitudinal movement of the needle and along said slot; biasing means connected to said support for holding the same in .a position in which said pivot means abuts one end of said slot in an operative position of said support in which said threading means cooperates with the eye of the needle; coupling means for coupling said support insaid threading position with the needle bar for movement with the same with :said threading means located in the eye of the needle and With said slot moving relative to said pivot means; and control means engaging said roam portion of said support during movement of saidsupport with said needle bar for'shifting said support 10 said inoperative position so that the movement is .operatively connected to said support for shifting .said support :to said inoperative position .during movement of said support with said needle bar so that the movement of said needle bar with said support and threading means effects disengagement of said threading means from the eye of the needle.

5. A threading arrangement asset forth in claim 4 and including a handle portion secured to said support 7 for shifting said support from said inoperative position to said threading position in said operative position of said support.

6. A threading arrangement as set forth inclaim 4 wherein said threading means includes a pair of wing portions and a hook intermediate said wing portions, said wing portions being adapted to engage the needle from opposite sides to guide said hook into the eye of the needle.

7. A threading arrangement as set forth in claim 4 wherein said pivot means and control means include threaded portions screwed into the needle bar guide of the sewing machine so that said support is mounted on the needle bar guide for oscillation with the same.

8. A threading arrangement as set forth in claim 7 wherein said cam portion extends along an edge of said support; and wherein said control means is a screw including a head portion engaging said cam portion.

9. In a sewing machine, in combination with a longitudinally reciprocable needle bar and needle: a threading means; a support supporting said threading means,

said support having a guide slot including an elongated slot part extending in the direction of movement of said needle bar and needle and another slot part extending transverse to said elongated slot part, said support being also formed with a pair of support slots extending in the direction of movement of said needle bar; pivot means passing through said support slots and adapted to be mounted on a part of the sewing machine for supporting said support for pivotal movement between a retracted inoperative position, and a threading position in which said threading means is located in the eye of the needle, and also for movement in the direction of said support slots; coupling means adapted to be secured to said needle bar and having a coupling portion located in said guide slot, said coupling means permitting relative movement between said needle bar and said support when said coupling portion is located in said elongated slot part, and connecting said support with said needle bar for movement with the same when said coupling portion is located in said transverse slot part, said coupling portion being located in said transverse slot part when said support is located in said threading position and being located in said elongated slot part when said threading means is in said inoperative position so that said support is coupled to said needle bar for movement with the same when said threading means is located in the eye of the needle; biasing means connected to said support for holding the same in a position in which said pivot means abuts the ends of said guide slots so that when said coupling portion is located in said transverse slot part, said support is in an operative position in which said threading means cooperates with the eye of the needle; and control means operatively connected to said support for shifting said support to said inoperative position during movement of said support with said needle bar when said coupling portion is located in said transverse slot part while said support slots move relative to said pivot means so that the movement of the needle bar effects disengagement of said threading means from the eye of the needle.

10. In a sewing machine, in combination with a longitudinally reciprocable needle bar and needle: a threading means; a support supporting said threading means, said support having a guide slot including an elongated slot part extending in the direction of movement of said needle bar and needle and another slot part extending transverse to said elongated slot part, said support being also formed with a pair of support slots extending in the direction of movement of said needle bar, said support having a cam portion; pivot means passing through said support slots and adapted to be mounted on a part of the sewing machine for supporting said support for pivotal movement between a retracted inoperative position, and a threading position in which said threading means is located in the eye of the needle, and also for movement in the direction of said support slots; coupling means adapted to be secured to said needle bar and having a coupling portion located in said guide slot, said coupling means permitting relative movement between said needle bar and said support when said coupling portion is located in said elongated slot part, and connecting said support with said needle bar for movement with the same when said coupling portion is located in said transverse slot part, said coupling portion being located in said transverse slot part when said support is located in said threading position and being located in said elongated slot part when said threading means is in said inoperative position so that said support is coupled to said needle bar for movement with the same when said threading means is located in the eye of the needle; biasing means connected to said support for holding the same in a position in which said pivot means abuts the ends of said guide slots so that when said coupling portion is located in said transverse slot part, said support is in an operative position in which said threading means cooperates with the eye of the needle; and control means engaging said cam portion of said support for shifting said support to said inoperative poistion during movement of said support with said needle bar when said coupling portion is located in said transverse slot part while said support slots move relative to said pivot means so that the movement of the needle bar effects disengagement of said threading means from the eye of the needle.

11. A threading arrangement as set forth in claim 10 wherein said pivot means, said control means, and said coupling means are mounted on the needle bar guide of the sewing machine so that said support is adapted to perform zig-zag motions with the needle bar guide, the needle bar and the needle.

12. A threading arrangement as set forth in claim 10 wherein said biasing means includes a lever having an actuating portion abutting a portion of said support means and a spring biasing said lever, said actuating portion extending parallel to the axis of the turning movement of said lever, said axis being parallel to the direction of movement of said support between said inoperative and threading positions.

13. A threading arrangement as set forth in claim 12 wherein said actuating portion has a notch for arresting said support in said inoperative position; and wherein said support has a handle portion for shifting said support to said threading position with said coupling portion moving in said transverse slot part.

14. A threading arrangement as set forth in claim 10 wherein said coupling means, said pivot means, and said control means include threaded portions for securing the same to the needle bar guide of the sewing machine.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,544,577 Weber Mar. 6, 1951 2,727,479 Meissler Dec. 20, 1955 2,739,553 Zink et al. Mar. 27,1956 2,910,029 Herbst Oct. 27, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 631,952 Germany June 30, 1936 440,898 Italy Oct. 20, 1948 

